UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA     AGRICULTURAL   EXPERIMENT  STATION 
COLLEGE   OF  AGRICULTURE  "NJ    '°E  WHEELER-  '"«■"" 

THOMAS    FORSYTH    HUNT,    DEAN  AND   DIRECTOR 

BERKELEY  h.  e.  van  norman,  vice-director  an^  dean 

University  Farm  School 


CIRCULAR  No.  202 
June,  1918 


COUNTY   ORGANIZATION    FOR 
RURAL   FIRE  CONTROL 

By  WOODBRIDGE  METCALF 


THE    NEED 

Uncontrolled  fires  in  grain  fields,  grass  ranges,  and  forests  cause 
destruction  annually  of  a  large  amount  of  foodstuffs,  and  of  other 
resources  vitally  necessary  to  the  successful  prosecution  of  the  war. 
The  best  figures  obtainable  indicate  that  this  destruction  in  California 
reaches  a  total  of  $750,000  a  year,  the  damage  being  about  equally 
divided  between  the  three  resources  above  mentioned.  The  fifteen 
to  twenty  thousand  acres  of  standing  grain  annually  destroyed  in 
the  state  would  supply  the  cereal  ration  for  nearly  thirty  thousand 
troops  for  a  year.  The  thousands  of  acres  of  range  and  tons  of  hay 
which  are  annually  lost  by  fire  resulted  last  year  in  the  starving  of 
hundreds  of  cattle  which  we  can  ill  afford  to  lose.  The  damage 
by  forest  and  lumber-yard  fires  of  approximately  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars,  makes  more  difficult  the  provision  of  aeroplane  stock, 
ship  timbers,  and  boxes  for  shipment  of  food  supplies  and  ammu- 
nition. The  2000  to  2500  field  and  forest  fires  per  year  in  California, 
most  of  which  are  the  result  of  carelessness,  must  be  extinguished  at 
the  cost  of  much  time  and  labor.  National-Forest  records  and  esti- 
mates for  the  remaining  portions  of  the  state  indicate  that  it  took 
an  equivalent  of  800  men,  working  four  months,  to  extinguish  field 
and  forest  fires  in  California  last  year.  This  labor  is  much  needed 
in  shipbuilding,  in  agriculture,  and  in  other  productive  work,  but 
we  shall  continue  to  expend  large  amounts  of  it  in  fighting  fires  until 
such  time  as  adequate  organization  and  equipment  for  fire  fighting 
are  available  in  every  county. 


Persons  residing  in  outlying  districts  .have  suffered  great  and 
unnecessary  losses  from  fires  started  for  the  most  part  through  care- 
lessness; and  when  such  fires  were  started  have  had  no  means  of 
procuring  needed  assistance.  City  residents  have  protection  furnished 
by  organized  fire  departments;  the  time  has  come  when  similar  pro- 
tection should  be  accorded  grain-fields,  ranges,  and  brush  and  timbered 
areas,  because  in  most  instances  these  are  subjected  to  a  menace  over 
which  the  property  owners  have  little  or  no  control.  More  people  are 
using  the  fields  and  woods  every  year  for  hunting,  camping,  and 
similar  recreation ;  a  condition  much  to  be  desired,  but  involving 
dangers  from  a  fire-protection  standpoint.  Many  of  these  people, 
who  have  not  been  educated  to  the  fire  risks  involved,  drop  burning 
matches  and  tobacco  along  the  highways  and  leave  camp  fires  un- 
extinguished, thus  confronting  the  individual  property  owner  with 
problems  that  he  cannot  handle  alone. 

The  state  law  makes  it  a  misdemeanor  to  leave  unextinguished 
camp  fires,  but  this  will  be  ineffective  until  it  is  made  the  duty  of 
someone  in  each  county  to  enforce  it.  Also,  when  fires  in  remote  places 
are  not  discovered  until  they  have  developed  beyond  ordinary  means 
of  control,  someone  should  be  charged  with  the  duty  of  taking  prompt 
action  to  suppress  them  before  they  become  dangerous  conflagrations. 
Arrangements  should  be  made  in  advance  for  defraying  charges  for 
transportation,  time  of  persons  fighting  fire  and  their  subsistence,  so 
that  the  man  in  charge  will  not  be  delayed  by  "red  tape"  at  a  time 
when  minutes  count.  It  has  been  demonstrated  by  federal  and  private 
cooperative  agencies  in  many  states  that  when  an  adequate  fire 
detection  and  suppression  system  is  put  into  effect,  any  area  can  be 
protected  so  that  small  fires  rarely  assume  dangerous  proportions. 

The  Forest  Industries  Committee  of  California,  under  the  chair- 
manship of  the  state  forester,  and  including  representatives  of  the 
United  States  Forest  Service,  the  University  of  California  and  the 
lumber  industry,  is  coordinating  the  efforts  of  all  these  organizations 
in  promoting  better  fire  protection  throughout  the  rural  and  moun- 
tain communities  of  the  state.  In  this  work  the  Committee  has 
endorsed  the  plan  of  county  organization  described  below  as  the 
most  feasible  for  dealing  effectively  with  the  fire  situation.  The  plan 
in  its  essentials  was  worked  out  early  in  1917  for  the  farm  bureau  of 
Merced  County  by  Roy  Headley  of  the  United  States  Forest  Service. 
As  a  farm-advisor  project  it  proved  to  be  so  effective  in  1917  in 
Merced  and  Solano  counties  that  the  annual  convention  of  county 
farm  bureaus  of  March,  1918,  adopted  it  as  one  of  seven  war  projects 
of  major  importance.     The  Committee  has  the  hearty  cooperation  of 


3 

the  federal  food  administration,  the  Governor  of  the  State,  the  State 
Council  of  Defense,  the  Fire  Prevention  Bureau  of  the  Pacific,  and 
the  State  Department  of  Education. 


AUTHORIZATION 

Subsection  40,  of  Section  4041  of  the  Political  Code  of  California, 
authorizes  the  board  of  supervisors  of  any  county  to  appropriate  an 
amount  not  to  exceed  two  cents  per  hundred  dollars  on  the  total 
assessed  valuation  of  the  county  for  fire  prevention  and  suppression. 
The  money  does  not  necessitate  a  special  levy  and  can  be  expended  in 
any  way  to  secure  the  maximum  of  fire  protection,  depending  on  local 
conditions  and  needs.  It  may  be  used  to  purchase  fire-fighting  equip- 
ment, as  in  Solano  and  Napa  counties,  or  to  hire  one  or  more  fire 
wardens  or  rangers,  as  in  Alameda  County. 


ESSENTIALS    OF    COUNTY    ORGANIZATION 

Recommendations  in  detail  as  to  the  necessary  protection  pro- 
gramme for  a  given  county  can  be  made  only  after  a  study  of  resources 
involved,  fire  hazards,  available  protection  forces,  and  other  factors 
which  enter  into  the  fire  problem  of  each  community.  This  study  can 
best  be  made  by  someone  experienced  in  fire-fighting  methods  who  is 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  territory  in  question  and  who  can 
formulate  a  simple  yet  effective  plan  for  rapid  detection  and  sup- 
pression of  any  fires  occurring  within  the  county.  In  counties  having 
a  farm  advisor,  he  is  taking  the  initiative  in  formulating  such  a  plan, 
often  in  cooperation  with  the  fire  chief  of  the  county  seat  and  with 
the  support  of  the  county  council  of  defense. 

Although  subject  to  modification  to  conform  to  local  needs  the 
following  six  points  should  be  covered  in  an  adequate  fire  protection 
plan  for  any  county: 

1.  A  county  fire  warden. 

2.  Local  fire  companies,  each  with  competent  officers  and  a  district 

fire  plan. 

3.  Installation   of   adequate   fire-fighting   equipment. 

4.  A  comprehensive  county  fire  ordinance. 

5.  Publicity  measures  throughout  the  county  and  in  each   local 

district. 

6.  Prompt  reports  on  all  fires. 


COUNTY  FIRE  WARDEN 


Whether  elected  by  members  of  the  local  fire  companies  or  regu- 
larly employed  by  the  board  of  supervisors,  there  should  be  someone 
in  general  charge  of  safeguarding  the  resources  of  the  county  from 
damage  by  fire.  He  will  usually  be  known  as  county  fire  warden,  and 
will  be  deputized  by,  and  work  in  cooperation  with,  the  state  forester 
in  perfecting  and  bringing  to  a  state  of  cooperative  efficiency  the 
equipment  and  efforts  of  all  associations,  companies,  and  individuals 
who  are  working  for  better  fire  protection  within  the  county.  As 
an  instance  of  this,  there  may  be  several  lumber  companies,  a  railroad, 


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Fig.    1. — A   county   fire   plan   showing   all   important   protection    features   in   the 
county  should  be  made  by  the  county  fire  warden. 

a  warehouse  association,  a  county  stockmen's  association  and  many 
individual  property  owners,  all  interested  in  fire  protection,  but 
unable  to  coordinate  their  efforts  in  this  direction  except  through  the 
efforts  of  the  county  fire  warden. 

The  county  fire  warden  will  assist  in  the  organization  of  local 
fire-fighting  companies,  recommend  qualified  men  for  appointment  or 
election  as  officers  in  those  companies,  and  instruct  them  in  the 
execution  of  the  duties  they  are  to  perform.  He  will  recommend  to 
the  board  of  supervisors  for  purchase,  and  install  at  proper  points  in 
the  various  danger  areas,  adequate  fire-fighting  equipment  which  he 
shall  inspect  at  frequent  intervals  to  insure  its  being  kept  in  condition 
for  immediate  and  effective  use.  It  will  be  his  duty  to  inspect  all 
property  in  the  county  in  order  to  determine  what  fire  hazards  exist 


and  to  make  such  recommendations  to  the  owners  as  may  be  necessary 
to  eliminate  the  hazards. 

He  will  enforce  the  existing  state  laws  and  from  time  to  time 
recommend,  with  the  approval  of  property  owners,  such  amendments 
to  the  county  fire  ordinance  as  may  be  necessary  to  minimize  fire 
hazards  or  handle  fire  problems.  In  some  instances  this  may  mean 
a  closed  season  against  the  burning  of  brush  or  setting  of  fire  for 
any  purpose  without  a  permit  from  the  fire  warden.  Under  some 
conditions  it  may  be  necessary  to  compel  property  owners  to  plow 
strips  as  fire  breaks  around  their  grain  fields,  particularly  where  these 
are  situated  next  to  a  highway,  or  compel  installation  of  adequate 
safety  devices  on  harvesting  machinery.  (See  Stanislaus  County 
ordinances  in  appendix.)  In  many  instances  the  county  fire  warden 
should  see  to  it  that  inflammable  vegetation  between  roads  and  grain 
fields,  or  around  warehouses,  is  cut  and  burned  early  in  the  season 
so  that  it  may  not  later  constitute  a  menace  to  the  grain  crop. 

The  county  fire  warden  should  be  provided  with  an  automobile 
capable  of  taking  a  number  of  fire  fighters,  with  equipment,  water 
and  provisions,  to  any  fire  which  cannot  be  handled  by  the  local  fire 
company.  In  order  to  deal  promptly  with  dangerous  situations  he 
should  be  authorized  by  the  board  of  supervisors  to  expend  in  an 
emergency  up  to  a  stated  sum  of  money  for  temporary  labor,  trans- 
portation, and  provisions. 

The  county  fire  warden  should  appoint  one  or  two  good  men  as 
assistant  county  fire  wardens  to  aid  him  in  times  of  great  fire  danger, 
or  to  take  charge  of  the  situation  during  his  absence.  These  men, 
as  well  as  himself,  will  be  appointed  state  fire  wardens  by  the  state 
forester,  which  enables  them  to  compel  able-bodied  citizens  to  fight 
fire  in  case  of  necessity.  This  necessity  should  rarely  arise  if  the 
county  is  well  organized,  as  the  men  of  the  local  companies  can  be 
depended  upon  to  do  their' duty  when  the  emergency  comes. 

LOCAL  FIRE  COMPANIES 

These  should  be  organized  in  the  several  towns  and  rural  com- 
munities, the  ideal  being  to  secure  distribution  in  the  county  so 
that  two  or  more  such  companies  can  be  quickly  sent  to  the  assistance 
of  any  one  organization  that  needs  help  in  a  dangerous  situation. 
The  organization  is  simple  and  can  be  perfected  as  part  of  the  work 
of  each  farm  bureau  center. 

The  local  company  should  be  made  up  of  ten  or  more  men  who 
are  competent  and  willing  to  fight  fires,  and  who  are  known  to  be 
loyal  American  citizens.     As  soon  as  the  personnel  of  the  company 


is  decided  upon,  officers  will  be  chosen  who  will  be  known  as  the  fire 
chief,  or  fire  boss,  and  assistant  fire  chief  or  boss.  These  men  will 
be  in  charge  of  all  fires  occurring  within  their  district  until  the 
county  fire  warden  or  one  of  his  assistants  arrives  on  the  scene. 
They  will  be  appointed  state  fire  wardens  by  the  state  forester  upon 
recommendation  of  the  county  fire  warden,  and  may  also  be  deputized 
by  the  county  sheriff  if  the  police  power  going  with  this  appointment 
seems  desirable. 

Excellent  results  have  been  obtained  in  forming  local  companies 
in  San  Diego  County  through  the  use  of  the  following  cooperative  fire 
suppression  agreement : 

Cooperative  Fire  Suppression  Agreement 

We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the 

Farm  Bureau  and  other  landholders  in  the 

District,  realizing  the 

necessity  of  preventing  the  enormous  annual  destruction  by  fire  of  stock  ranges, 
forests,  food-stuffs,  and  forage,  and  the  fact  that  during  this  period  in  particular 
it  is  the  patriotic  duty  of  every  loyal  American  citizen  to  produce  for  our  army 
and  our  allies  every  possible  ounce  of  those  commodities  so  vital  to  their  success, 
do  hereby  agree: 

1.  That  we  will,  each  and  all,  use  every  effort  to  prevent  the  outbreak  of  fires  and 

urge  our  neighbors  to  do  the  same. 

2.  That  in  case  of  necessary  burning  of  brush  piles  in  connection  with  clearing 

land,  we  agree  to  secure  from  an  authorized  state  fire  warden  the  usual 
form  of  burning  permit,  and  discourage  our  neighbors  from  starting  any 
fires  without  a  permit. 

3.  That,  in  case  of  fire,  we  will  immediately  answer  any  call  for  volunteers  within 

this  general  vicinity,  unless  prevented  by  good  and  sufficient  reasons. 

4.  That  we  will  place  ourselves  under  the  direction  of 

Fire  Agent  or Fire  Warden,  during  the 

progress  of  the  fire. 

5.  That  we  will  do  our  utmost  to  suppress  said  fire  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

6.  That  we  will  do  all  the  aforesaid  freely  and  without  compensation  unless  our 

services  are  required  for  more  than  six  hours,  in  which  case,  under  the 
discretion  of  the  County  Fire  Warden,  claim  for  our  services  will  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  County  Board  of  Supervisors,  at  the  rate  of  25  cents  per 
hour. 

DUTIES  OF  FIEE  CHIEF 

With  the  help  of  his  assistant  and  in  cooperation  with  the  county 
fire  warden,  the  local  fire  chief  will  provide  for  storage  at  the  most 
accessible  point  in  the  district  of  the  fire-fighting  trailer  or  other 
equipment  that  may  be  provided  by  the  board  of  supervisors  or  by 
local  subscription. 

He  will  instruct  his  men  as  to  their  duties  when  a  fire  occurs  and 
will  drill  them  in  methods  of  using  various  types  of  equipment. 


He  will  designate  someone  to  be  local  "dispatcher,"  whose  duty 
it  will  be  to  take  care  of  the  lines  of  communication  during  a  fire. 
The  dispatcher,  who  may  be  the  local  postmaster  or  storekeeper,  will 
be  someone  who  is  always  available  at  the  telephone  in  order  to  be 
notified  immediately  when  a  fire  starts.  When  so  notified  the  dis- 
patcher will  immediately  call  the  fire  chief  and  thereafter  stay  at  the 
telephone  in  order  to  transmit  the  latter 's  orders  to  men  who  are 
needed  at  the  fire.  The  dispatcher's  telephone  number  should  be 
widely  advertised  throughout  the  district  by  means  of  posters  and 
newspaper  notices  so  that  the  person  discovering  a  fire  will  be  able 
to  report  it  with  the  least  possible  loss  of  time. 


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Fig.  2. — The  district  fire  plan  kept  hanging  near  the  telephones  of  the  chief, 
assistant  chief  and  dispatcher  gives  all  necessary  information  and  hastens  the 
operation  of  getting  men  and  equipment  to  a  fire.  < 

DISTRICT  FIRE  PLAN 

The  fire  chief  will  make  a  detailed  study  of  his  district  to  deter- 
mine the  areas  of  greatest  hazard  on  the  one  hand  and  the  available 
protection  forces  and  equipment  on  the  other.  The  latter  data  will 
be  found  to  be  most  useful  if  entered  on  a  map  similar  to  figure  2, 
giving  a  tabulated  list  at  one  side  of  all  persons  who  will  respond  when 
needed  and  the  equipment  they  can  be  depended  upon  to  bring. 
Copies  of  this  plan  should  hang  beside  the  telephones  of  the  chief, 
assistant  chief,  and  dispatcher,  and  one  should  be  on  file  in  the  office 
of  the  county  fire  warden.  It  will  increase  speed  and  accuracy  in 
giving  directions  during  the  excitement  of  a  fire  and  should  be 
revised  from  time  to  time. 


8 

While  engaged  in  the  study  of  the  district  necessary  to  the  framing 
of  this  plan,  the  fire  chief  should  lose  no  opportunity  to  advise  with 
property  owners  in  the  community  as  to  the  removal  of  all  possible 
fire  hazards  on  their  premises.  If  this  is  done  conscientiously  by  each 
fire  chief,  with  the  assistance  of  the  county  fire  warden  where  neces- 
sary, the  whole  county  will  soon  reach  a  condition  of  safety  which 
would  not  otherwise  be  possible.  Some  people  may  resent  such  sug- 
gestions, but  it  is  believed  that  these  will  be  few  in  comparison  to 
those  who  will  enter  wholeheartedly  into  this  "safety  first"  movement. 
The  safety  measures  adopted  should  be  particularly  thorough  where 
large  amounts  of  foodstuffs  are  at  stake.  It  is  better  to  err  on  the 
side  of  safety  than  to  take  chances,  any  time. 


* 


Fig  3. — The  two-wheeled  trailer  weighs  1200  pounds  loaded.  The  .equipment 
it  contains  is  worth  its  weight  in  gold  when  a  bad  fire  threatens.  At  least  $5000 
worth  of  grain  was  saved  in  one  county  last  year  through  the  efficiency  of  these 
outfits. 


FIKE-FIGHTING  EQUIPMENT 

In  order  to  fight  fires  successfully  adequate  equipment  must  be 
ready  and  stored  in  such  a  way  that  it  may  be  transported  to  a  fire 
with  the  least  possible  delay.  It  is  believed  that  a  small  two:wheeled 
auto  trailer,  which  may  be  attached  instantly  to  any  automobile,  best 
solves  the  transportation  problem.  It  has  the  advantage  of  being 
light  in  weight,  durable  in  construction,  reasonable  in  price,  and  at 
the  same  time  adequate  in  capacity  to  suit  the  needs  of  most  local 
districts.  Thirteen  of  these  trailers,  as  described  below,  were  installed 
last  year  in  Solano  County  and  are  giving  perfect  satisfaction. 


SPECIFICATIONS  FOR  FIRE   TRAILER 

(See  figure  4) 

Outside  Dimensions. — 36  X  72  inches. 

Bed. — 2  X  8-inch  plank  set  on  edge,  forming  twelve  7  X  7-inch  compartments 
and  five  14  X  14  inch  compartments,  requiring  50  lineal  feet,  surface  on  four 
sides. 


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Fig.  4. — Plan  of  the  Solano  County  fire-fighting  trailer.  The  small  subdivisions 
are  for  21/4-gallon  fire  extinguishers,  while  the  large  ones  hold  10-gallon  water 
cans,  extra  charges,  wet  sacks  and  tools. 


Bottom. — 1-inch  boards,  surfaced  on  two  sides,  securely  nailed  to  the  bed 
requiring  40  board  feet. 

Spring  Cleats. — Two  pieces,  2X3  inch,  running  lengthwise  at  outside  edge» 
underneath  the  floor,  requiring  12  lineal  feet,  surfaced  on  four  sides.  One  spring 
hanger  is  bolted  to  each  of  these  pieces. 

Tongue. — Piece  of  2  X  4-inch,  nine  to  ten  feet  long,  securely  spiked  through 
the  flooring  to  the  several  divisions  of  the  bed.     Bolts  are  not  required. 


10 

The  Hitch. — Made  of  two  pieces  of  1%-inch  strap  iron,  bolted  to  the  tongue, 
one  rigid  and  one  flexible  to  allow  of  adjustment Kto  any  automobile  (see  sketch). 
One  foot  of  light  steel  chain  with  snaffle  attached  is  fastened  into  a  hole  left  in 
the  outer  end  of  each  of  these  arms.  Both  chain  and  arms  can  be  wrapped  with 
canvas  or  padded  to  prevent  scratching  of  enamel  on  machine  to  which  trailer 
is  attached.  Several  good  hitches  on  the  market  can  be  purchased  at  reasonable 
prices.  It  may  be  more  convenient  to  use  one  of  these  on  the  trailer,  in  which 
case  a  special  connecting  bar  must  be  attached  to  all  automobiles  which  may  have 
to  pull  the  trailer.  Whatever  type  of  hitch  is  used,  those  responsible  for  getting 
the  'trailer  to  fires  should  practice  until  the  attachment  can  be  accomplished  in 
the  shortest  possible  time. 

Running  gear  and  springs  are  standard  light  automobile  equipment  and  can 
usually  be  secured  second-hand  at  a  reasonable  figure.  Steel  instead  of  rubber 
tires  will  require  less  attention  and  give  good  service.  Springs  should  be  of 
one-ton  capacity. 

After  completion  the  whole  should  be  given  two  coats  of  good  mineral  paint. 

The  Solano  County  trailers  cost  between  $45  and  $50  each.  Sev- 
eral types  of  one-ton  commercial  trailers  are  on  the  market,  but 
these  are  higher  in  price  and  will  probably  not  give  any  better  service 
than  the  one  here  described.  A  reasonably  satisfactory  trailer  can 
be  made  by  using  a  light  spring  wagon  with  cut-under  front  wheels. 
The  shafts  or  pole  will  have  to  be  cut  off  in  order  to  devise  a  satis- 
factory hitch,  while  the  bed  can  be  subdivided  to  hold  the  equipment. 
Unless  of  cut-under  construction  these  four-wheeled  trailers  are  apt 
to  be  overturned  in  rounding  corners. 

EQUIPMENT  FOE  FIKE  TRAILER 

Two  and  one-half  gallon  chemical  fire  extinguishers  of  the  loose- 
stopple,  acid-and-soda  type,  will  just  fit  into  the  7  X  7-inch  compart- 
ments in  the  trailer  bed.  Ten  of  these,  of  a  make  approved  by  the 
Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  should  be  carried  in  ten  of  the  twelve 
compartments  of  this  size,  while  extra  charges  of  acid  and  soda  will 
fit  into  the  other  two.  The  fire  extinguishers  are  listed  by  the  several 
makers  at  about  $18,  but  this  price  is  subject  to  discounts  in  dozen 
lots,*  averaging  30  per  cent  f.o.b.  San  Francisco.  Extra  charges, 
consisting  of  one  and  one-half  pounds  of  bi-carbonate  of  soda  (baking 
soda)  and  four  ounces  of  sulphuric  acid  will  cost  from  thirty  to  fifty 
cents  each,  the  best  price  being  secured  when  the  chemicals  are  bought 
in  bulk.  They  can  then  be  put  up  in  packages  for  quick  use  in  the 
field.  It  will  be  found  most  satisfactory  to  carry  the  acid  in  bottle 
of  the  same  type  as  those  in  the  extinguisher,  so  that  no  time  need  be 
lost  in  pouring  acid  from  one  bottle  to  another  in  recharging. 


*  For  list  of  approved  fire  extinguishers  see  Bulletin  295,  California  Agricul- 
tural Experiment  Station. 


11 


HOW    TO    USE    THE    EXTINGUISHERS 


The  one  and  one-half  pounds  of  baking-  soda  must  be  thoroughly 
dissolved  in  two  and  one-half  gallons  of  water.  Two  or  three  buckets, 
each  holding  two  and  one-half  or  three  gallons,  are  necessary  for  this 
purpose.  Do  not  put  the  dry  powder  into  the  extinguisher  and  then 
pour  in  the  water,  as  any  undissolved  particles  of  soda  may  clog  the 
hose  at  a  critical  moment.  When  the  soda  solution  is  ready  unscrew 
the  top  of  the  extinguisher,  remove  the  empty  acid  bottle  from  the 
wire  rack  under  the  cap  and  pour  the  soda  solution  into  the  body 
of  the  extinguisher.  A  bucket  with  a  funnel  bottom  will  prevent 
spilling;.  Remove  the  cork  from  a  four-ounce  bottle  of  acid,  replacing 
the  cork  with  the  lead  stopple.  Put  the  acid  bottle  in  the  wire  cage 
and  replace  the  top  of  the  extinguisher,  screwing  it  down  tightly. 

The  only  operation  necessary  to  discharge  the  extinguisher  is  to 
turn  it  upside  down,  causing  the  acid  to  mix  with  the  soda,  the  result- 
ing chemical  action  furnishing  the  pressure  to  expel  the  solution. 
Many  extinguishers  are  damaged  by  men  who  in  the  excitement  of  a 
fire  reverse  them  and  drop  them  forcibly  on  the  ground.  This  is  not 
necessary  as  the  lead  stopple  will  fall  out  of  itself  when  the  extin- 
guisher is  reversed.  A  single  charge  will  last  about  one  minute  and 
throw  a  stream  forty  feet  during  that  time.  This  is  sufficient  to  wet 
down  from  two  hundred  to  three  hundred  feet  of  fire  in  standing 
grain.  Ordinarily  about  twenty-five  extra  charges  should  be  car- 
ried on  the  trailer  and  a  reserve  supply  should  be  available  for  the 
emergency  of  several  fires  occurring  in  quick  succession. 

WATEE 

Water  for  charging  extinguishers  is  most  conveniently  carried  in 
ten-gallon  milk  cans  which  just  fit  in  the  14  X  14-inch  spaces  in 
the  trailer  bed.  Four  of  these  cans  will  furnish  water  for  sixteen 
recharges,  making  a  total  of  twenty-six  available  charges  when  the 
trailer  reaches  a  fire.  It  is  presumed  that  before  these  are  used  up 
the  fire  chief  will  be  able  to  have  an  extra  supply  of  water  on  the 
ground.  Some  companies  are  using  a  forty-gallon  barrel  for  carrying 
water.  This  is  apt  to  tip  over  on  rough  ground,  and  in  brush  or  on 
hillsides  cannot  be  carrieel  to  the  seat  of  the  fire  as  is  the  case  with 
the  ten-gallon  can. 

Fresh  drinking  water  for  the  men  is  an  absolutely  essential  part 
of  fire-fighting  equipment  as  fire  fighters  soon  become  exhausted  if  it 
is  not  available.     The  best  way  to  carry  drinking  water  is  in  a  three- 


12 


to  five-gallon  canvas  water  bag  which  kee,ps  the  contents  cool  by 
evaporation  of  water  from  the  outer  surface.  Water  bags  should  not 
t)e  kept  full  of  water,  but  filled  with  cool  water  just  before  the  trailer 
goes  to  the  fire.  An  extra  supply  of  fresh  water  may  be  carried  in 
one  of  the  water  cans  and  should  not  be  used  for  recharging  extin- 
guishers except  as  a  last  resort. 


Fig.  5. — The  Lodi  Fire  Company  and  four-wheeled  trailer.  The  U-hitch  shown 
will  fit  over  the  axle  of  any  automobile,  being  held  in  place  by  a  bolt  at  the  top. 
A  short  piece  of  chain  and  snaffle  on  each  side  prevent  its  slipping  sideways. 
Parts  are  padded  with  rubber  hose  to  prevent  scratching  the  automobile.  This 
hitch  is  rigid  enough  to  pull  well,  and  has  enough  flexibility  to  insure  safety  in 
turning  corners. 


OTHER  EQUIPMENT 

Box  containing  ten  folded  burlap  sacks.  Water  should  be  poured 
into  the  box  when  the  trailer  leaves  for  a  fire  so  that  the  sacks  will 
be  thoroughly  moistened.  They  are  very  useful  for  beating  out  a  fire 
which  has  been  dampened  with  extinguishers. 

Six  shovels  and  six  ten-inch  hoes  are  useful  in  fighting  fire  with 
earth  or  making  fire  lines  where  plows  cannot  be  used. 

Six  wire  street-sweeping  brooms  make  excellent  tools  for  sweeping 
a  fire  out  in  short  grain  or  grass. 

Five  two  and  one-half  gallon  buckets,  one  of  which  has  a  wide- 
mouth  funnel  in  the  bottom,  are  necessary  for  carrying  water  and 
recharging  the  extinguishers. 


13 

A  four-pound  axe,  a  heavy  mattock  and  a  pair  of  heavy  wire 
cutters  should  be  on  every  trailer.  These  are  useful  in  getting  through 
fences  and  demolishing  other  obstructions  which  may  bar  the  way 
in  getting  the  equipment  to  the  fire. 

All  of  this  equipment  can  be  carried  lengthwise  of  the  trailer 
between  the  extinguishers  and  milk  cans,  or  hung  in  racks  at  each 
side.  A  ladder  for  getting  at  fires  in  buildings  can  be  carried  on  a 
four-wheeled  trailer,  but  is  too  unwieldy  for  the  smaller  outfit. 

The  trailer  and  outfit  as  described  will  cost  between  $200  and 
$225,  distributed  about  as  follows : 

Trailer,  $50-$60. 

Extinguishers,  $120-$125. 

Water  cans  and  pails,  $15-$20. 

Tools,  $25-$30. 

If  desired  two  man-pack  water  bags  with  double-acting  siphon 
pump  can  be  substituted  for  two  of  the  fire  extinguishers.  These  were 
developed  by,  and  may  be  purchased  from,  the  Western  Forestry 
and  Conservation  Association,  525  Yeon  Building,  Portland,  Oregon, 
and  are  particularly  useful  in  fighting  fire  in  brush  or  hilly  ground. 
A  water-proofed  canvas  bag,  holding  from  seven  to  eight  gallons  of 
water,  is  fitted  with  shoulder  straps  so  that  it  may  be  carried  on  the 
back.  The  siphon  hand-pump  draws  water  from  the  bag  through  a 
short  piece  of  hose  and  throws  it  for  a  distance  of  forty  feet.  Com- 
bining more  than  double  the  capacity  of  the  fire  extinguisher  with 
portability  and  cheapness,  these  should  prove  very  effective  fire- 
fighting  tools.  They  cost  about  $8  each,  and  are  enthusiastically 
endorsed  by  rangers  of  the  Oregon  Fire  Association  who  used  them 
last  year. 

Another  similar  piece  of  equipment  which  will  be  most  useful  in 
the  sections  of  mountainous  counties  where  roads  are  bad  is  a  horse 
or  mule  outfit  consisting  of  two  eight-gallon  canvas  pack-saddle  bags 
with  hose  and  force  pump.  This  can  be  used  anywhere  a  pack  animal 
can  go,  and  has  given  good  satisfaction  in  fighting  fires  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  These  outfits  are  made  by  J.  G.  Read  Bros.  Company, 
Ogden,  Utah,  and  cost  about  $35,  not  including  the  pack  saddle. 

In  those  districts  where  the  chief  danger  is  from  timber  and  brush 
fires  the  following  standard  equipment,  such  as  is  usedtby  the  United 
States  Forest  Service,  is  recommended.  This  should  be  stored  in  a 
locked  box  located  at  a  convenient  crossroads  or  intersection  of  trails. 
If  the  box  is  painted  orange  and  conspicuously  labelled  ' '  County  Fire 
Fighting  Tools"  it  will  serve  as  a  reminder  of  the  need  for  care  with 
fire. 


14 


Brush  and  Timber  Fire  Fighting  Equipment 
10-15  Man  Crew 

Tool  Type  Number 

Axes 314 -lb.  I).  B.  falling 3 

Axes 3-lb.  D.  B.   swamping 3 

Axes 21^-lb.  with  pole  axe  handle 6 

Mattocks 5-lb.  3%  inches  wide 6 

Hoes 7-in.  oval  eye  planters'  hoe 6 

Shovels... Long  handle,  round  point 6 

Saw 5-ft.  falling  pattern 1 

Files 8-inch  mill 6 

Water  bags Canvas,  5-gallon  2 

Lantern Cold  blast  2 


COUNTY   FIRE    ORDINANCES 

The  board  of  supervisors  of  several  counties  have  furthered  fire 
protection  within  their  counties  by  passing  ordinances  which  enforce 
certain  safety  measures,  prohibit  certain  acts  during  the  dry  season, 
and  provide  penalties  for  non-compliance  with  any  of  the  provisions  of 
the  ordinance.  Such  an  ordinance  can  be  drawn  up  by  the  district 
attorney  in  cooperation  with  the  county  fire  warden  to  fit  local  needs. 
(See  Stanislaus  County  ordinance  in  appendix.)  In  brief  some  of 
the  provisions  of  such  an  ordinance  may  be  the  following : 

1.  Creating  the  office  of  county  fire  warden  and  defining  the  duties 
of  that  office.  I  !  i  ||  4'] 

2.  Requiring  the  plowing  of  suitable  fire-breaks  around  grain 
fields,  and  stacks  of  grain  or  hay  in  the  field. 

3.  Requiring  the  clearing  of  a  fire-break  around  all  warehouses, 
barns,  buildings,  and  pumping  plants  within  the  county  outside  the 
limits  of  incorporated  towns. 

4.  Requiring  the  use  of  approved  air  clarifiers  and  spark  arresters 
on  all  gasoline  engines  used  in  harvesting  grain  within  the  county. 

5.  Requiring  that  all  combined  harvesters,  or  other  outfits  har- 
vesting grain,  shall  be  equipped .  at  all  times  with  at  least  two 
chemical  fire  extinguishers. 

6.  Requiring  the  installation  of  adequate  fire  protective  equipment 
in  all  warehouses  used  for  the  storage  of  grain  or  foodstuffs  within 
the  county. 

7.  Prohibiting  the  burning  of  grass,  brush  or  other  inflammable 
material  in  the  county  during  a  specified  danger  season  without  a 
written  permit  from  the  county  fire  warden  and  then  only  under 
safeguards  dictated  by  that  official. 


15 

8.  Making  it  the  duty  of  the  county  fire  warden,  or  other  official, 
to  make  inspections  in  connection  with  the  above  provisions  and  arrest 
violators  for  noncompliance. 

9.  Providing  for  patrol  of  highways  passing  through  areas  of  great 
fire  hazard.  In  some  cases  county  traffic  officers  could  well  perform 
this  service  in  connection  with  their  regular  duties. 

10.  Providing  suitable  penalties  for  noncompliance  with  any  of 
the  provisions  of  the  ordinance. 

Such  a  county  ordinance,  if  carefully  drawn  up  and  wisely 
enforced,  will  supplement  the  provisions  of  the  state  and  federal  fire 
laws  and  greatly  aid  in  the  prevention  of  all  classes  of  fires  within 
the  county.  It  is  hoped  that  every  county  in  the  state  will  shortly 
adopt  an  ordinance  containing  as  many  of  the  above  provisions  as 
are  needful  in  dealing  with  the  local  situation. 

PUBLICITY 

It  is  believed  that  the  situation  warrants  publicity  within  the 
various  counties  in  addition  to  that  given  by  the  United  States  Forest 
Service,  and  by  the  state  forester.  Signs  similar  to  those  shown  in 
the  illustration  (fig.  6)  can  be  successfully  used  to  emphasize  the 
provisions  of  the  county  fire  ordinance,  advertise  in  each  district  the 
names  and  telephone  numbers  of  the  local  fire  chief  and  dispatcher, 
and  teach  brief  lessons  of  care  with  fire.  The  fact  that  the  county 
board  of  supervisors  does  this  will  tend  to  emphasize  these  things 
both  to  local  residents  and  to  strangers  who  are  apt  to  be  careless. 

FIRE   PROTECTION    FOR   WAREHOUSES 

All  grain  and  hay  warehouses  should  be  safeguarded  by  the  in- 
stallation of  adequate  fire-fighting  equipment.  The  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters  of  the  Pacific  considers  one  two  and  one-half  gallon 
chemical  fire  extinguisher  for  every  2500  square  feet  of  floor  space 
as  furnishing  a  minimum  of  safety,  and  recommends  in  addition  the 
installation  of  three  two  and  one-half  gallon  fire  pails  per  same  unit 
of  area.  These  must  be  kept  filled  and  so  located  as  to  be  instantly 
available.  A  barrel  of  at  least  twenty-four  gallons  capacity,  kept 
filled  with  water,  may  be  substituted  for  the  chemical  extinguisher. 
Where  the  warehouse  is  so  situated  as  to  be  exposed  to  flying  sparks 
from  passing  train  or  burning  buildings,  a  ladder  long  enough  to 
reach  the  peak  of  the  roof  should  be  kept  hanging  on  pegs  at  the 
side  of  the  building.  This  should  be  labelled,  "For  Fire  Only,"  and 
never  be  used  for  any  other  purpose. 


16 


REPORTS   ON    FIRES 


It  is  essential  that  the  local  fire  chief  make  a  report  to  the  county 
fire  warden,  following  either  of  the  forms  given  on  page  20,  as  soon 
as  possible  after  the  fire  is  out.  The  latter  will  then  file  his  report  on 
the  same  fire  with  the  state  forester  on  cards  which  the  latter  pro- 
vides for  this  purpose.  If  no  county  fire  warden  has  been  elected,  each 
fire  warden  will  send  a  separate  report  on  each  fire  to  the  state 
forester's  office.  This  is  necessary,  not  only  that  evidence  may  be 
collected  where  fires  start  under  suspicious  circumstances,  but  also 
in  order  that  the  efficiency  attained  by  various  organizations  may  be 
made  known  for  the  benefit  of  others. 


WARNING 


Use  extreme  care  with  fires!    Clear  away  ground 
around  Bret     See  that  fire  U  out  when  leaving 


Do  NOT  burn  .tubbU  or  bnuh  during  dry  hum  link**  abwjluurjr  imc*» 
If  found  Mcownry  um  otrom.  c«r.t     Whon  wind  U  Mowing  doubk 
»r.  with  fir* 


Grain  men  and  range  owner»  are  urged  to  keep  eitm  fire  I 
on  hand  and  bring  um  to  fire,  (or  volunteers  who  are  l» 

AUo  carry  extinguuher.  on  harvester,  and  tractor. 

Merced  County  Board  ot  Supervisors 


When  arriving  at  a  fire 

Follow  his  instruction*. 

district  is 


Tire  Boss"  for  duty 
"Fire  Boss"  for  this 


Merced  County  Board  of  Supervisors 


Fig.  6. — County  fire  notices  when  well  gotten  up  and  properly  distributed  do 
not  admit  of  doubt  in  anybody's  mind  as  to  the  importance  of  fire  protection. 
Their  presence  indicates  to  residents  and  strangers  alike  that  the  county  is  alive 
to  its  responsibilities  in  this  matter. 


17 


INCENDIARY    FIRES 


It  is  essential  that  the  members  of  each  community  be  on  the  look- 
out for  suspicious  characters  who  may  be  traitorously  attempting  to 
further  the  ends  of  the  enemies  of  the  country  by  destroying  food  and 
other  war  supplies  by  means  of  fire.  One  California  county  had 
fourteen  fires  of  undoubted  incendiary  origin  during  one  month 
last  year  which  destroyed  hay  valued  at  $45,000.  The  labor  situation 
in  Washington  last  season  brought  the  seriousness  of  this  hazard  to 
the  attention  of  the  public  in  the  grain  section  which  organized  to 
combat  this  evil.  Each  district  had  a  secret  organization  with  a 
deputy  in  charge,  and  was  in  close  cooperation  with  adjoining  dis- 
tricts by  telephone.  Every  stranger  was  closely  watched  and  an 
explanation  was  demanded  for  any  suspicious  action.  The  "fire 
bugs"  soon  came  to  know  that  a  misstep  or  misdemeanor  brought  swift 
and  sure  punishment.  This  resulted  in  a  more  favorable  season  in 
that  section  than  in  the  preceding  years. 

The  federal  food  administration  is  directing  the  prosecution  of  all 
persons  suspected  of  setting  incendiary  fires.  This  will  be  in  the 
hands  of  federal  prosecutors.  The  maximum  penalty  for  conviction 
on  such  a  charge  is  two  years  at  hard  labor  in  a  federal  prison  and 
a  fine  of  ten  thousand  dollars. 


LITERATURE 

Further  information  regarding  fire  protection  is  given  in  the 
following  publications,  which  until  the  supply  is  exhausted  can  be 
obtained  free  of  charge  upon  application  to  the  organizations  named. 

Fire  Protection  for  Grain  Fields.  Bulletin  295,  California  Agricultural  Experi- 
ment Station,  Berkeley,  Calif.,  April,  1918. 

Handbook  of  Forest  Protection.  California  State  Board  of  Forestry,  Sacramento, 
Calif.,  April,  1918. 

The  Western  Fire  Fighters'  Manual.  Western  Forestry  and  Conservation  Asso- 
ciation, Portland,  Ore.,  April,  1918. 

Fire  Prevention  Day — A  Lesson.  California  State  Board  of  Forestry,  Sacramento, 
Calif.,  April,  1918. 

Fire  Prevention  and  the  War.  United  States  Forest  Service  for  California,  San 
Francisco,  Calif.,  April,  1918. 


18 


LIST    OF    COUNTIES    SHOWING    ORGANIZATIONS    TAKING    THE    LEAD    OR 
CO-OPERATING    IN    FIRE    PROTECTION 


Other 
organizations 


County 
Alameda   

Farm 
Advisor 

X 

U.S.  Forest 
Service 

Alpine   

Amador  



... 

Butte  



... 

Calaveras    



... 

Colusa   



X 

Contra  Costa 

X 



Del  Norte  



X 

El  Dorado  

X 

X 

Fresno  

X 

X 

Glenn  

X 

X 

Humboldt   

X 

.... 

Imperial    

Inyo  

Kern    

X 
X 

X 
X 

Kings    

Lake    

X 

Lassen  

X 

Los  Angeles  .. 

X 

X 

Madera 

Marin    

Mariposa  .. 
Mendocino 
Merced    ... 

Modoc   

Mono   

Monterey  .. 

Napa   

Nevada 


City  of  Arcadia. 

City  of  Pasadena. 

City  of  Sierra  Madre. 

City  of  Azusa. 

City  of  Glendora. 

City  of  Monrovia. 

San  Antonio  Fruit  Exchange. 

Eibio  and  Precipice  Canyon  Water  Co. 

Banning  "Water  Company. 

San  Gabriel  Water  Company. 

Mt.   Wilson   Solar   Observatory. 

Pasadena  and  Mt.  Wilson  Road  Toll  Co. 

San   Antonio    Water   Company. 

San    Dimas   Water   Company. 

San    Dimas    Fruit    Exchange. 

Glendora  Mutual  Water  Company. 

Glendora  Irrigating  Company. 

Marin  Municipal  Water  District. 


Monterey  County  Water  Works. 


19 


County 

F 

Ad 

arm 
visor 

U.S.  Forest 
Service 

Orange    

X 

X 

Placer    

X 

X 

Plumas    

X 

Eiverside  

X 

X 

Other 
organizations 

Tri-County  Eeforestation  Commit! ( 
Serrano  Water  Association. 
J.  T.  Carpenter  Water  Company. 
Irvine  Company. 


Tri-County  Eeforestation  Committee. 

Idylwild  Mt.  Park  Company. 

Temescal  Water  Company. 

Lake  Hemet  Water  Company. 

First  National  Bank,  Hemet. 

Sacramento  x 

San  Benito  

San   Bernardino        x  x  Tri-County   Eeforestation   Committee.     . 

San  Diego  x  x 

San  Francisco 

San  Joaquin  x 

San  Luis  Obispo     ... .  ... .  City  of  San  Luis  Obispo. 

San  Mateo  

Santa  Barbara x  City  of  Santa  Barbara. 

Montecito  Fire  Protective  Association. 

Santa  Barbara  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

Sisquoc  Fire  Protective  Association. 

City  of  Santa  Barbara  Water  Commission. 

Santa  Clara  

Santa  Cruz  x 

Shasta  x  x 

Sierra    x 

Siskiyou    x 

Solano   x 

Sonoma  x 

Stanislaus  x 

Sutter    x 

Tehama  X 

Trinity    x 

Tulare  x  x 

Tuolumne    X 

Ventura  x  x  Santa  Paula  Water  Company 

Yolo  x 

Yuba   

In  addition  a  large  number  of  timber  owners  cooperate  with  the  United  States 
Forest  Service  on  the  basis  of  1%  cents  per  acre  per  year  for  the  protection  of 
lands  lying  in  or  near  the  national  forests.  County  cattlemen 's  associations 
recently  organized  at  the  request  of  the  federal  food  administration  are  actively 
furthering  fire  protection  within  their  counties. 


20 


REPORT   ON    FIRES 
Location 

County Township 

Started  in  section Property  of 

Date  started Out 

Acres  burned  Value  per  acre 

Grain — Wheat,  barley,  oats,  rye $ 

Forage — Grass,  hay $ 

Timber    $..._ 

Money  damage  Total  Covered  by  insurance 

Improvements    $ $ 

Grain     $ $ 

Forage    $..... $ 

Cause  (in  detail).     If  by  tractor  or  thresher,  what  make  and  specific  reason  for 

fire    


If  any  reason  to  suspect  incendiary,  who  is  suspected  and  why? 


Witnesses  (saw  fire  start)    (first  on  scene) 

Address 

Address 

:.. Address  . 

Address . 

Date  of  report Place 

Signature Title 

Remarks:    


ANOTHER    TYPE    OF    FIRE    REPORT 
OFFICE  OF  FIRE  CHIEF 

Rural  Fire  Company  No 

County,  California 

Location State 

Date 19 Time 

Building Field 

Kind  of  building Kind  of  field 

Damage  to  building Slight Partial Total 

Damage    to    field Slight Partial Total 

Extended  to  another  building Beyond 

Extended  to  another  field Beyond 

Owner  of  building Owner  of  field - 

Value  of  building,  $ Value  of  field,  $ 

Insurance  on  building,  $ Insurance  on  field,  $.... 

Loss  on  building,  $....'. Loss  on  field,  $ 


21 

Occupant  where  fire  started 

Kind  of  contents  of  building 

Value  of  contents,  $ ;  Insurance,  $ ;  Loss,  $. 

Insurance  agent  or  adjuster — (building) 

Insurance  agent  or  adjuster — (field) 

Insurance  agent  or  adjuster — (contents  of  building) 

Was  origin  of  fire  suspicious 

Cause   of  fire 

Officer  in  charge  of  fire 

Fire  put  out  by  residents 

By  extinguisher Chemical  lines 

Pails  or  hose Hydrant  stream 


(Note. — Send  promptly  all  information  that  can  be  obtained  on  this,  the  first 
day  after  the  fire — further,  or  more  accurate  facts  and  figures  later.) 

Date  of  report 19 

Date  of  report 19 

(Signed) , 

Fire  Chief 
Fire  Company 


ORDINANCE   NO.    104 

An  Ordinance  Providing  for  Protection  of  Property  Against  Fire,  for 
the  Preservation  of  the  Public  Peace,  Health  and  Safety  Within 
the  County  of  Stanislaus  and  Providing  the  Punishment  for  a  Vio- 
lation of  this  Ordinance. 

The  Board  of  Supervisors  of  the  County  of  Stanislaus,  State  of  California,  do 
ordain  as  follows: 

Section  1.  Every  person,  firm,  corporation,  co-partnership,  district  or  associa- 
tion of  persons  whatsoever,  being  a  possession  of,  or  occupying,  or  having  control 
of  any  land  within  the  County  of  Stanislaus,  outside  of  incorporated  cities  and 
towns,  upon  which  there  has  been  sown,  or  is  standing,  growing,  or  grown,  any 
wheat,  oats,  barley,  hay,  or  other  vegetation  of  any  kind  whatsoever,  which  when 
so  sown,  standing,  growing,  grown,  or  being  upon  said  land  in  any  way  has 
become  inflammable  and  in  such  a  condition  as  to  be  easily  set  on  fire,  at  all  times 
during  the  season  when  the  said  wheat,  oats,  barley,  hay  or  other  vegetation  is 
inflammable  and  in  such  a  condition  as  to  be  easily  set  on  fire,  shall  maintain  on 
every  portion  of  the  boundary  of  the  said  land  where  the  said  land  adjoins  other 
land  upon  which  said  other  land  there  is  standing,  growing,  or  being  any  wheat, 
oats,  barley,  hay  or  other  vegetation  of  any  kind  which  is  inflammable  and  in 
such  a  condition  as  to  be  easily  burned,  an  effective  fire  protection  or  fire  break, 
the  said  fire  protection  or  fire  break  to  be  made  by  plowing  along  the  said  boundary 
a  strip  of  the  said  land  not  less  than  three  feet  in  width,  or  by  the  removal  of  all 
inflammable  matter  from  a  strip  of  the  said  land  not  less  than  six  feet  in  width 
along  the  said  boundary  when  the  said  fire  protection  or  fire  break  is  made  in  some 
other  manner  than  by  plowing;  provided  that  when  the  said  land  adjoins  a  high- 


22 

way  the  fire  break  may  be  made  by  removing  all  inflammable  matter  from  the  half 
of  the  highway  next  to  the  said  land. 

Sec.  2.  Every  person,  firm,  corporation,  co-partnership,  district,  or  any  asso- 
ciation of  persons  whatsoever,  harvesting  grain  or  causing  grain  to  be  harvested 
by  means  of  a  combined  harvester,  header  or  stationary  threshing  machine,  or 
bailing  hay  by  means  of  a  hay  press,  shall  keep  at  all  times  in  convenient  places 
upon  each  said  combined  harvester,  header,  or  stationary  threshing  machine,  or 
hay  press,  fully  equipped  and  ready  for  immediate  use,  two  suitable  chemical  fire 
extinguishers,  each  of  a  capacity  of  not  less  than  two  and  one-half  gallons. 

Sec.  3.  Every  person,  firm,  corporation,  co-partnership,  district,  or  any  associa- 
tion of  persons  whatsoever,  operating  or  causing  to  be  operated  any  gas  tractor 
or  gas  propelled  harvesting  machine  in  harvesting  grain  or  hay  in  the  County  of 
Stanislaus  shall  maintain  attached  to  the  exhaust  on  said  gas  tractor  or  gas 
propelled  harvesting  machine  an  effective  spark-arresting  and  burning  carbon- 
arresting  device. 

Sec.  4.  No  person  shall  operate  or  drive  a  motor  vehicle  of  any  kind  other 
than  gas  tractors  or  gas  propelled  harvesting  machines  over  or  across  any  land 
upon  which  there  is  any  inflammable  vegetation  of  any  kind  unless  the  said  motor 
vehicle  is  so  constructed  that  the  exhaust  from  the  engine  must  pass  from  the 
engine  into  and  through  a  muffler  before  being  released  to  the  air,  and  the  said 
exhaust  must  be  released  to  the  air  through  the  said  muffler. 

Sec.  5.  Every  person,  firm,  corporation,  co-partnership,  district  or  association 
of  persons  whatsoever  being  in  possession  or  occupying  or  having  control  of  any 
warehouse  or  building  maintained  for  the  storage  of  grain,  hay  or  foodstuffs,  or 
other  property  of  any  kind  or  character,  for  hire,  outside  of  incorporated  cities 
and  towns,  shall  at  all  times  maintain  around  the  said  warehouse  or  building  an 
effective  fire  protection  or  fire  break,  the  said  fire  protection  or  fire  break  to  be 
made  by  removing  all  inflammable  material  from  the  ground  around  the  said 
warehouse  or  building  for  a  distance  of  not  less  than  twenty  feet  from  the  exterior 
walls  of  the  said  warehouse  or  building;  and,  in  addition  to  the  said  fire  protection 
or  fire  break,  the  said  persons  shall  maintain  in  each  of  the  said  warehouses  or 
buildings  one  chemical  fire  extinguisher  of  a  capacity  of  two  and  one-half  gallons, 
for  each  two  thousand  five  hundred  square  feet  of  floor  space  in  the  said  ware- 
house or  building;  or  a  forty-two  gallon  barrel  filled  with  water  and  three  two  and 
one-half  gallon  pails  for  each  two  thousand  five  hundred  square  feet  of  floor  space 
in  the  said  warehouse  or  building. 

Sec.  6.  Any  person,  firm,  corporation,  co-partnership,  district  or  association 
of  persons  violating  any  of  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance  shall  be  guilty  of  a 
misdemeanor,  and  shall  be  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail  for  a 
period  not  exceeding  seven  months  or  a  fine  not  exceeding  six  hundred  dollars,  or 
by  both  such  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  7.  All  ordinances  or  parts  of  ordinances  in  conflict  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 

Sec.  8.  This  ordinance  is  hereby  declared  to  be  an  ordinance  for  the  immediate 
preservation  of  the  public  peace,  health  and  safety  and  is  adopted  for  the  purpose 
of  preserving  the  grain  and  cereal  food  supply  in  the  County  of  Stanislaus,  and 
is  passed  by  four-fifths  vote  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Stanislaus  County. 

This  ordinance  shall  take  effect  immediately  and  prior  to  the  expiration  of 
fifteen  days  after  the  passage  thereof  shall  be  published  one  week  in  the  Modesto 


23 

Evening  News  and  in  the  Modesto  Morning  Herald,   newspapers  of  general  cir- 
culation published  in  the  said  County  of  Stanislaus. 

Passed  and  adopted  at  a  regular  session  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Stanis- 
laus County  on  this  14th  day  of  May,  1918. 

The  Sutter  County  Fire  Protection  ordinance,  in  addition  to  the  above,  provides 
for  adequate  inspection  in  the  following  section : 

It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  Board  of  Supervisors  to  engage  an  inspector  or 
inspectors,  at  a  compensation  to  be  fixed  by  said  Board,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  inspect  all  combined  harvesters,  tractors,  warehouses,  buildings,  fields,  and  other 
premises  and  places.  Said  inspectors  and  every  peace  officer  shall  have  the  right 
to  enter  any  field,  warehouse,  building,  or  other  premises  and  places  for  the 
purpose  of  making  inspection  to  see  that  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance  are 
being  carried  into  effect,  and  they  shall  have  the  power  to  summarily  arrest  any 
one  violating  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance ;  and  said  inspectors  shall  have  the 
right  to  condemn  any  carbon  catching  device,  and  make  such  recommendations 
to  the  parties  in  charge  thereof  as  he  may  see  fit. 


STATION  PUBLICATIONS  AVAILABLE  FOR  FREE  DISTRIBUTION 


No. 
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242. 
250. 
251. 


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257. 
261. 

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263. 
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No. 
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BULLETINS 

No. 

Enological  Investigations.  274. 
Humus  in  California  Soils. 

The  Loquat.  275: 
Utilization  of  the  Nitrogen  and  Organic 

Matter    in    Septic    and    Imhoff   Tank  276. 

Sludges.  277. 

Deterioration  of  Lumber.  278. 

Irrigation   and   Soil   Conditions   in  the  279. 

Sierra  Nevada  Foothills,  California.  280. 
The  Citricola  Scale. 

New  Dosage  Tables.  281. 
Melaxuma    of    the    Walnut,     "Juglans 

regia."  282. 
Citrus   Diseases   of   Florida   and   Cuba 

Compared  with  Those  of  California.  283. 

Size  Grades  for  Ripe  Olives.  284. 

The  Calibration  of  the  Leakage  Meter.  286. 

Cottony  Rot  of  Lemons  in   California.  288. 
A  Spotting  of  Citrus  Fruits  Due  to  the 

Action  of  Oil  Liberated  from  the  Rind.  290. 
Experiments  with  Stocks  for  Citrus. 
Growing  and  Grafting  Olive  Seedlings.  291. 
A  Comparison  of  Annual  Cropping,  Bi- 
ennial Cropping,  and  Green  Manures  292. 

on  the  Yield  of  Wheat. 

Feeding  Dairy  Calves  in  California.  293. 

Commercial  Fertilizers.  294. 

Preliminary  Report  on  Kearney  Vine-  295. 

yard  Experimental  Drain.  296. 

CIRCULARS 

No. 

Correspondence  Courses  in  Agriculture.  162. 

Increasing  the  Duty  of  Water. 

Grafting  Vinifera  Vineyards.  164. 

Alfalfa   Silage  for  Fattening  Steers.  165. 

Spraying  for  the  Grape  Leaf  Hopper. 

House  Fumigation.  166. 

Insecticide  Formulas.  167. 

The  Control  of  Citrus  Insects.  168. 

Snravine  for  Control  of  Walnut'  Aphis. 

Countv  Farm  Adviser.  169. 

Official  Tests  of  Dairy  Cows.  170. 

Melilotus  Indica. 

Wood  Decay  in  Orchard  Trees.  172. 

The  Silo  in  California  Agriculture.  174. 

The    Generation    of   Hydrocyanic    Acid  175. 
Gas  in  Fumigation  by  Portable  Ma- 
chines. 176. 

The  Practical  Application  of  Improved 

Methods  of  Fermentation  in  Califor-  177. 

nia  Wineries  during  1913  and  1914.  179. 

Practical  and  Inexpensive  Poultry  Ap- 
pliances.            /  181. 

Control    of    Grasshoppers    in    Imperial 

Vdley.  182. 

Oidium  or  Powderv  Mildew  of  the  Vine. 

Tomato  Growing  in  California.  183. 

"Lungworms."  184. 

Feeding  and  Management  of  Hogs.  186. 

Some  Observations  on  the  Bulk  Hand-  187. 

ling  of  Grain  in  California.  188. 

Announcement  of  the  California   State  189. 

Dairv  Cow  Competition,    1916-18.  191. 

Irrigation   Practice   in   Growing   Small  192. 

Fruits  in  California.  193. 

Bovine  Tuberculosis.  196. 

How  to  Operate  an  Incubator.  197. 

Control  of  the  Pear  Scab. 

Home  and  Farm  Canning.  198. 

Lettuce  Growing  in  California.  200. 

Potatoes  in   California. 

201. 


The  Common  Honey  Bee  as  an  Agent 
in  Prune  Pollination. 

The  Cultivation  of  Belladonna  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

The  Pomegranate. 

Sudan  Grass. 

Grain   Sorghums. 

Irrigation  of  Rice  in  California. 

Irrigation  of  Alfalfa  in  the  Sacramento 
Valley. 

Control  of  the  Pocket  Gophers  in  Cali- 
fornia. 

Trials  with  California  Silage  Crops  for 
Dairy  Cows. 

The  Olive  Insects  of  California. 

Irrigation  of  Alfalfa  in  Imperial  Valley. 

Commercial  Fertilizers. 

Potash  from  Tule  and  the  Fertilizer 
Value  of  Certain  Marsh  Plants. 

The  June  Drop  of  Washington  Navel 
Oranges. 

The  Common  Honey  Bee  as  an  Agent 
in  Prune  Pollination.      (2nd  report.) 

Green  Manure  Crops  in  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. 

Sweet  Sorghums  for  Forage. 

Bean  Culture  in  California. 

Fire  Protection  for  Grain  Fields. 

Topping  and  Pinching  Vines. 


White    Diarrhoea    and    Coccidiosis    of 

Chicks. 
Small  FruiJ  Culture  in  California. 
Fundamentals    of    Sugar    Beets    under 

California   Conditions. 
The  County  Farm  Bureau. 
Feeding  Stuffs  of  Minor  Importance. 
Spraying  for  the  Control  ef  Wild  Morn- 

ing-Glory  within  the  Fog  Belt. 
The  1918  Grain  Crop. 
Fertilizing     California     Soils     for     the 

1918  Crop. 
Wheat  Culture. 
Farm  Drainage  Methods. 
Progress  Report  on  the  Marketing  and 

Distribution  of  Milk. 
Hog     Cholera     Prevention     and     the 

Serum  Treatment. 
Grain  Sorghums. 
Factors    of    Importance    in    Producing 

Milk  of  Low  Bacterial  Count. 
Control     of     the     California     Ground 

Squirrel. 
Extending  the  Area  of  Irrigated  Wheat 

in  California  for  1918. 
Infectious  Abortion  in  Cows. 
A  Flock  of  Sheep  on  the  Farm. 
Poultry  on  the  Farm. 
Utilizing  the  Sorghums. 
Lambing  Sheds. 
Winter  Forage  Crops. 
Pruning  the  Seedless  Grapes. 
Cotton  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley. 
A  Study  of  Farm  Labor  in  California. 
Dairy  Calves  for  Veal. 
Suggestions    for   Increasing    Egg   Pro- 
duction in  a  Time  of  High-Feed  Prices. 
Syrup  from  Sweet  Sorghum. 
Growing  the   Fall   or   Second   Crop   of 

Potatoes  in  California. 
Helpful  Hints  to  Hog  Raisers. 


